Queen of the Underworld's Ring

Adrian was a happy boy, he loved his mummy and daddy, and everything was great...

... at the weekends.

But this was a school day. As usual there was the rushed morning, dad had gone to work, mum had some appointments and Adrian had spent too long getting out of bed so had to rush his breakfast which he hated. In just enough time he had got out of the door with his laces tied and his schoolbag on his back.

But walking down the road to school he saw the most unusual thing. There was a large hole in the middle of the pavement. No one was around. He peered in. There were a set of steps. Adrian paused. "Do I want to go to school, or do I want an adventure?" he thought.

On his way down the steps it became darker and darker, but it was warm enough and who knew what he might find. If he didn't like what he found he could always come back up and go to school late if at all.

Soon he found himself at the bottom of the steps and by a river. Out of the darkness a boat pulled up. A wrinkly old man in a naval costume was in it with an oar in each hand.

"Phew, you took yer time din' yer?... you gettin' in then?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Of Course, who else?" Then the old man seemed to have second thoughts. "You are Adrian aren't you?"

"I am, but how did you know"

"Just hop in, we're late." Said the old man looking impatient.

Adrian climbed into the boat and they set off down some strange old underground waterway system.

"So have you got it then?" Asked the old man.

"Got what?" asked Adrian.

"It must be in your bag" said the old man, heaving away desperately at the oars. They were clearly very late for something.

"I've only got school books in there." Said Adrian. He didn't need to look to know that.

"But you haven't even checked" Said the old man with a look of desperation. He had beads of sweat on his brow from rowing so fast.

Adrian opened his bag. He couldn't believe his eyes. Inside there weren't any books as he's thought, there wasn't anything in there except for a beautiful, gold crown. He half pulled it out, not knowing what was happening, here he was, under the ground on a river in a boat with a strange old sailor and he had a crown in his schoolbag.

"Well put it on then, we're nearly there." said the old man.

Adrian was very confused. He put the crown on his head and it felt very comfortable, just right for his head. Just then He could see a shoreline. On the bank people had lit great fires. People seemed to be dancing and setting off fireworks.

Before long they could see that there was a big celebration in progress. Loud, happy music, cheering people, bright lights, and announcements.

When they finally pulled up to the bank a big sign came into view. "WELCOME BACK KING ADRIAN"

This little boy in the boat was speechless, but when everyone saw him and his crown on his head, they let out great cheers "It's true, look here he comes. King Adrian has come back." And they danced around sand sang at the top of their voices in the most excited and happy way.

The boat pulled up to a red velvet mooring with a stairway lined with bowing courtiers. Adrian found his feet and, ushered by the boatman got up onto the steps. More fireworks went off and as he looked to the top of the stairs he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was dressed very well and was holding a silver plate with something on it.

Adrian dutifully climbed the stairs towards her. She seemed familiar to him in some way but he couldn't think how.

"Dear King, we are so happy you are here again. Please accept this as my personal welcome back." She held out the silver plate. On it he now saw was a ring. A beautiful, shining ring studded with jewels. Adrian picked it up. It was beautiful. He couldn't resist to slide it on to his finger. The crowd roared. He could see that this woman was holding back some tears.

"She's the Queen, You're meant to kiss her." Said the man who had brought him on the boat.

Adrian was just a schoolboy. Kiss her he thought. What would my friends say? I don't want to kiss her. But everyone was looking on, and he could see that it was expected. He kissed her and thought "YUCK", but everyone let out a big cheer.

They all went up the rest of the steps together and he could see a castle on top of the hill.

Outside the soldiers had been waiting. When Adrian arrived they blew a trumpet and all the royal guards saluted him. "Shall we go in?" Asked the Queen. "I had kitchen prepare your favourite dish, Fish Fingers and Mash."

Adrian was keen for a break in interest from himself and thought the food might provide a distraction so he agreed that that was a great idea (even though he had only just finished breakfast).

After about 15 toasts to welcome him they all sat down to a banquet of very good fish fingers and mash. By now Adrian was thinking this was all too much and he would like to have just gone to school instead, but it just kept going on and plate after plate of his favourite dish was presented to him until it all became too much.

"I need to pee" Said Adrian. Rather too loudly for everyone in the room stopped their chatter and looked up. "Where's the toilet?" he tried to ask more quietly, though now all the attention was on him.

"But you are the King, if it so pleases you you can pee where you like, ha ha ha"One of the members in the room answered. He was joking, so full of joy was he that King Adrian had returned, that he lost his sense of royal respect.

Adrian, didn't realise this man was joking and so turned to a corner wall and let out a great splash of pee.

Everyone was surprised, but thought the king had set a new trend an so they all peed in the great dining room. It was only then that Adrian saw the sign for the toilet and felt extremely embarrassed.

He wanted to go home. Or to school. Even school was better than this.

Then he had an idea.

"What has happened to my Royal plane?"

Everyone wondered what he was talking about. "Royal plane your majesty?" Asked one of the men nearest him.

"Yes, I ordered it to be built for my return, so where is it?" Said Adrian.

"Oh, your majesty, um..." the man looked around. No one knew what Adrian was talking about. Then man said quickly - "We didn't think you'd be back so soon. It's not ready yet."

"So, how long until it's ready then?" Asked Adrian.

The queen liked the King's new authority so she chimed in "You mustn't upset my King, he's very tired"

"Oh, we can have it ready for you after your Royal siesta."

"Very good. I'm going to bed now. I'll be up in an hour OK?"

"Yes your Majesty" they all bowed and let him go away to bed.

The Queen led him there and he fell into a wonderful sleep.

When he awoke there were people standing all around him. "It's been an hour your Majesty. Your plane is waiting for you."

"Great" Said Adrian. "Where is it?" And they let him get dressed and took him out to a hill where stood the most beautiful airplane.

"OK, help me in." He said. He got in. He turned the key and the engine let out a great rumble. He looked around him at all the faces and then pulled on the accelerator.

The plane started moving forwards. The crowd didn't know what to think. Was he just trying the engine or was he going to fly? One last look around and then Adrian pulled up. The plane shot into the sky. He looked down. All the faces got smaller and smaller until it was like just looking at ants. He looked to the sky and through the clouds he could see what looked like a large hole.

He flew towards it.

He shot through it.

The next thing he knew he was falling to his feet with his schoolbag on his back. He realised he was just outside the school gates. His best friends Mark and John were calling him over. "Come on, Adrian, we're gonna be late."

Adrian rand to catch up with them and headed into school.

At his desk he looked in his bag. There was no crown in there, only his books and pencil case.

Had it all been a dream?

But then he noticed that on his finger he still had the ring. It had all been real after all.